# Accident 19990908047529A: Cessna 172K, Pickrell, NE, September 8, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 8, 1999, 21:40 local time
- Place: Pickrell, NE
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.3695° N, 96.7191° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3695&lon=-96.7191&mi=10
- Aircraft: N84385, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84385-2023-09-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172K (registry code 2072430, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Reported engine: LYC O320E2D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 450 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI99LA333](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA333) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990908047529A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN DURING A NIGHT FORCED LANDING AFTER EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING SO ROUGH THAT IT FELT AS IF IT HAD HALF A PROPELLER AND THAT HE COULD NOT READ THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR OR ALTIMETER.  HE CIRCLED TWICE OVER AN UNLIT GRAVEL ROAD AND THEN TOUCHED DOWN TWICE ON THE ROAD BEFORE IMPACTING A SIGN.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MADE THE LANDING WITH 15 DEGREES OF FLAPS AND NOT FULL FLAPS SINCE IT TOOK TWO HANDS TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT BECAUSE OF THE VIBRATION.  EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK GUIDE TUBE WAS LOOSE WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE OIL.         (-23) ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1999, AT APPROXIMATELY 2130, CDT, CESSNA 172K, N84385, DEPARTED THE BEATRICE, NEBRASKA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, ENROUTE TO THE CRETE, NEBRASKA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. AT ABOUT 2135, AT 3500 FEET MSL, THE PIC EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT VIBRATION, FOLLOWED BY A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PIC LANDED ON A COUNTY ROAD 13 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE CRETE AIRPORT. UPON THE LANDING ROLLOUT, N84385'S RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK A STOP SIGN, DIVERTING THE AIRPLANE INTO A MILO FIELD. THE PIC AND A SINGLE PASSENGER REPORTED NO  INJURIES. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY ASI-AW, RICK JOHNSON, DISCLOSED A LOSS OF ENGINE OIL DUE TO A LOOSE ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK GUIDE TUBE. THE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL INDUCED THE FAILURE OF THE #4 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD ASSEMBLY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI99LA333](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA333), Sep 9, 1999: Cessna 172K (N84385), Pickrell, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: the loose oil dipstick guide tube resulting in loss of oil and the engine failure. The night condition was a contributing factor.

## Other reports on N84385 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20230623022179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230623022179A), Jun 23, 2023: Cessna 172K (N84385), Mirana, AZ, Substantial damage. Airman was performing a cross country flight for personal reasons. This cross country flight included several flight legs from marana regional airport (avq) to…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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